Accessibility Act Comes into Force

As of today, Saturday, the Accessibility Act is in effect in Austria, which, in accordance with an EU directive, aims to ensure greater accessibility for digital products and services. People with disabilities, especially those who are blind, severely visually impaired, deaf, and severely hearing impaired, should be able to use important contemporary products and services - from laptops to online shops - significantly better, emphasized the Ministry of Social Affairs in a press release.

PCs, Smartphones, Online Banking

A range of products and services must now be accessible in order to be provided in the EU internal market or to receive a CE marking. Specifically affected are, among others, PCs and smartphones, smart TVs and e-books, payment terminals and ATMs or ticket machines, websites for passenger transport or online banking, online shops, and electronic communication services. In addition to people with disabilities, the new rules are also intended to benefit the elderly.

There are transitional periods for the law. There are also exceptions for micro-enterprises that offer services. For micro-enterprises that manufacture, import, or trade products, relief measures are intended to prevent an unreasonable administrative burden. If the new requirements are not met, administrative fines of up to 80,000 euros may be imposed, depending on the nature of the violation and the size of the company.

Schumann on the Accessibility Act

According to Minister of Social Affairs Korinna Schumann (SPÖ), the new Accessibility Act "strengthens the European internal market and at the same time the self-determined way of life of people with disabilities".

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.